THE 18th ANNUAL DENNIS THOMAS
ART & WRITING CHALLENGE - 2015
Topic for 2015: "We Who Believe In Freedom Cannot Rest Until It Comes"
In 1964 Ella Baker said, "Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of white mother's sons, we who believe in freedom cannot rest."
It has been 51 years, but events in Ferguson, MO, Staten Island, NY, around the country, around the world, and in our own communities remind us that still, we cannot rest. Whether the struggle is ending anti-black law enforcement violence, eliminating discrimination , achieving marriage equality, ending poverty, or achieving fair and just immigration reform, we cannot rest until freedom is here.
Hip hop artist and activist Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) recently said that this critical time is "an opportunity for necessary change - positive change. And it’s not necessarily convenient or comfortable."
How can our art help us as we strive to make the necessary positive change to achieve freedom? Using your unique, artistic voice, create a visual and/or literary interpretation of what it is like when we work to make a positive change in the world around us.
We received submissions from a record number (42) of schools this year!
Students submitted entries in four different categories:
Essay, Creative Writing, Art and Video.
To see the winning entries, please go to the
"Winning Art & Writing Challenge Entries" menu and view the 2015 tabs.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS.........
The winners who were able to attend the Awards Dinner on May 9th, 2015
The Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center wishes to acknowledge the generous donations received in 2015 in support of the Art & Writing Challenge program:
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Foundation / Security - etc. / Ann Van de Pol / Barbara and Edward Tonningson / Joan Lautenberger / Stanley and Janet Maleski in memory of Adam Maleski / Bud and Mary Lembke / Dorothy Baltzo in memory of Andy Baltzo.
And thanks to Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church for the assistance of staff and the use of Bortin Hall for the Art & Writing Challenge Awards Dinner.